Page 22 of Shifting Fate

I took a deep breath. “I-I don’t think so, but I don’t know. It was like I had no control over the situation at all. Worse? I nearly attacked the Westwind wolf who was dancing with him. I saw red. My beast wanted him dead and I… I’m afraid that if Dallon wouldn’t have been such a distraction, I might’ve done something bad.”

My Alpha sighed. “This is what happens when you deny your mate,” he told me. “You might’ve used a little mental magic to keep him guessing, but you insisted on spending time with him, torturing yourself—torturing yourwolf!—by being around him and not indulging. From what I’ve seen, Dallon seems to think you’re exactly what he wants. You’re the one being an idiot.”

I felt myself crumble, falling apart right in front of him. I gripped my head in both hands, slumping forwards. “But I can’t…” I uttered. “I can’t give him anything. I can’t be his mate, I’ll only—”

“Arias. He’s yourmate. He’s the one fated to your soul. You think the fates would fuck up so monumentally that they’d give you someone who couldn’t handle you and all of your…idiosyncrasies? What? Are you going to go back to the way things were? Keeping him at arm’s length? Never letting yourself touch him?”

“If that’s what it takes.” I gritted my teeth, but gasped when Tristram grabbed me by the neck.

“Look at me,” he growled, fierce. “I fucked up with Findlay and I would doanythingto go back and change it. Anything, Arias. Don’t make the same mistake with Dallon, I’m begging you. You’re only hurting yourself, and you’re hurting him if you try and sweep this under the rug. Do you understand?”

“But he—”

“Heis your fated mate, and I have no doubt in my mind that whatever you two did tonight, he enjoyed it. He’s only been flirting with your stupid ass for months.” He scoffed. “He doesn’t hate you, but he might be pissed if you literally fucked and ran. I’d be pissed too.”

I bowed my head. “Yeah. I know.”

He sighed softly. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I would’ve done differently, with Finn, you know? And it all boils down to this: I was afraid. But god, if I could just see him again…” His voice hitched and when I glanced up, I saw him wipe at his face. Sadness stung my heart.

I touched his knee. “We’ll find him,” I whispered. “We will, and then you can go about begging his forgiveness, yeah?” Tristram smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes, and I realized that he was beginning to lose hope.

And if he lost hope, what did that mean for us?